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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

11+ London independent for bright but gentle girl

18 replies

UntamedShrew · 03/02/2020 18:43

Hi all, I am hoping that while the 11+ entrance is still fresh in your minds, I might be able to ask for some of your wisdom and experience - as I’ve only ever been through this for boys before.

Next year we have to apply for DD who is bright (esp maths but quick at most things) but who I think would feel out of place in an ‘alpha girls’ environment. She loves nature, animals, is creative and very gentle and caring.

Please help me draw up a short list for her? We are based in the clapham junction area. I know all the co-eds, like Emanuel and love Alleyns but think it might be too much of a bunfight for places. And the girls schools are totally unknown to me. Thank you for any help you can give!

OP posts:

givemesomewineplease · 03/02/2020 20:03

LEH really springs to mind. They have been the most exceptionally welcoming and thoughtful school that I've visited on my rounds and the experience of the exam day, music audition and interview was the same. It has a very nurturing feeling but they also achieve great academic results. Notting Hill & Ealing is also very nurturing from what I've seen and heard, but that's probably too far from you. Francis Holland Sloane Square also seems nurturing and also is now getting impressive grades.

GoldenRuby · 04/02/2020 02:41

What about Woldingham? Lots of girls commute by train from Clapham Jct - Woldingham, where the station is in the school grounds and is met by a shuttle mini bus to get them to the school. It has a lovely ethos, and while super academic girls thrive it is not a hot housing environment.

Bluerussian · 04/02/2020 03:11

I think Alleyns is very good, a lot of pupils will apply but that would be the same for any good school.

Rockylady · 04/02/2020 09:13

Godolphin & Latymer? In Hammersmith though

Original poster

UntamedShrew · 04/02/2020 18:57

Thank you, some nice choices to look at there. Will want to apply to 3 so let me know if you think if any others! Thanks

OP posts:

KingscoteStaff · 04/02/2020 20:50

I was going to suggest Woldingham. Sydenham High has a growing reputation, too. Or in the other direction, what about Queens Gate?

Paribus · 04/02/2020 21:04

There is no such school in London- or rather there MIGHT be some schools that are more nurturing than others but all of them are very difficult to get in. This year Alleyn's 25+ kids per place before gender divide, Emanuel 1000+ applicants for 48 places, Godolphin 25+, same for City, SHHS, PHS etc. Awful, awful competition. Queen’s Gate and Queen’s college are deemed less hot housey and less pressurised- but subsequently provide not so impressive results? It’s a minefield out there, I feel for you :((.

bashstreetkids · 04/02/2020 22:15

I really like Sydenham High- it seems very nurturing and has had some great results this year. There is a school bus which goes from two locations Between the Commons.

My daughter sounds very like yours and we have just been through the 11 plus process this year.

The Sydenham day was lovely- exams and interviews interspersed with fun activities and drama workshops- my daughter enjoyed the day.

pasternak · 04/02/2020 22:34

If you get to it and into it, SHHS is the ticket

pasternak · 04/02/2020 22:37

Long on music, art and gives plenty of time for the smart ones to come through and do very well at the highest level, assuming they wish to put in the effort

DarlingOscar · 05/02/2020 13:47

You have to go and look round them all IMO? WOrk out which environment suits your dc best? A lot of schools also offer taster days - get your dd booked on some of those?

Alleyns has 100 places available to external candidates at 11. Did they really have 2500 sitting the exam?!

OP you shouldn't worry about any of these applications being a bunfight. Every kids is applying to several schools and they all find one that suits them. It's perfectly possible for a bright kid to get into every school they apply to.

onemouseplace · 05/02/2020 13:53

Streatham & Clapham High is easy from CJ as well (train to Streatham Hill then a short walk), there is also a direct bus (319).

I really liked it for DD when I looked round - it felt a nice, creative environment with a good mix of girls (ie. not just alpha female types).

Original poster

UntamedShrew · 05/02/2020 21:18

Appreciate all these so much. Had never heard of Sydenham... I will look at lots of them - there just seem to be so many!

I feel we have lots more choice than we had with DS but that too much choice isn’t always a good thing. I see no one has mentioned Sutton, Putney or wimbledon high schools or JAGs. Are they more alpha friendly would you say? By which I don’t mean any criticism at all, if you’re a parent there - I just know that some schools are more suited to some characters than others! So I hope my choice of words isn’t wrong. And thanks again for any input, so helpful already.

OP posts:

arpo · 06/02/2020 07:24

@UntamedShrew Hall School Wimbledon sounds a great fit. Easy logistics into the bargain.

BottleOfJameson · 06/02/2020 09:18

I was going to mention Sydenham high, it's always been a nurturing school and is getting great results too!

volpemum · 06/02/2020 09:28

I have a DDs at WHS and PHS... both fantastic schools and honestly I don't think they are Alpha. A lot of girls move up from the Junior school which creates a much more mixed environment. I would however say that the academic standards at both schools are high and one of my DD still finds it hard being in the middle of the year (in terms of grades) I keep telling her that "average" at these schools is fantastic but I guess it just depends on the character of the child. She puts a lot of pressure on herself but I don't think this is driven by the school (and certainly not driven by us !) I have a lot of friends with DDs at JAGs and my feeling from chatting to them is that its quite hard core and you have to be pretty resilient ! But this is clearly not first hand experience.

Splendid68 · 06/02/2020 10:20

Agree with volpemum. There is a mix of personalities at most schools. My DDs at WHS are not alpha girls and fit in fine. Totally agree that finding the right academic level is all important. Their frame of reference is small and they need to be able to cope with not being top at everything (if they aren’t), when they might have been at primary school. WHS and PHS are small schools and so you are less likely to get overlooked if you are quiet.

Corblimbea · 15/02/2020 11:55

We are looking at Sutton for DD who is y5. Visiting on March 18th so will update then but so far really like the communication and research suggests it’s ‘warmer’ and diverse but girls will get good results. Year groups are smaller (60-70) which to my DD will be important as very ‘average’ but hardworking.

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